📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Harvinder Chandigarh
Politics
High Court Reaffirms Law Safeguarding Chandigarh’s ‘Unique’ Status Over Livelihood Claims
✍️ Live Law
🗓 25 Sep 2026, 03:37 AM
👁 17
The Punjab and Haryana High Court ruled that the right to livelihood cannot override the law protecting Chandigarh’s distinctive status, upholding the city’s special regulatory framework.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court delivered a verdict on a petition that challenged the applicability of a livelihood‑related provision against the statutory framework governing Chandigarh’s unique urban character. The petitioners argued that certain restrictions imposed by the Chandigarh Protection Act infringed on their right to earn a living.
In its judgment, the bench held that while the right to livelihood is a fundamental right, it does not grant a blanket exemption from laws designed to preserve the planned and distinctive nature of Chandigarh. The court emphasized that the city’s layout, architecture, and land‑use policies are protected by specific legislation, and any encroachment must be examined within that legal context.
The decision reinforces the authority of the Chandigarh Protection Act and signals that future disputes over commercial activities or land use will be scrutinised against the city’s special status. Stakeholders, including local businesses and urban planners, are expected to align their operations with the upheld regulations.
Legal experts note that the ruling balances constitutional rights with the need to maintain Chandigarh’s planned environment, a model often cited in urban development discussions across India.
In its judgment, the bench held that while the right to livelihood is a fundamental right, it does not grant a blanket exemption from laws designed to preserve the planned and distinctive nature of Chandigarh. The court emphasized that the city’s layout, architecture, and land‑use policies are protected by specific legislation, and any encroachment must be examined within that legal context.
The decision reinforces the authority of the Chandigarh Protection Act and signals that future disputes over commercial activities or land use will be scrutinised against the city’s special status. Stakeholders, including local businesses and urban planners, are expected to align their operations with the upheld regulations.
Legal experts note that the ruling balances constitutional rights with the need to maintain Chandigarh’s planned environment, a model often cited in urban development discussions across India.